by Feng Yue
“Please, ask the upperclassmen and see when I ever ran away from a fight!” Charles shoved a bolt into her hands. Like a ruffian, he proclaimed, “You think that the title of the academy’s most attractive boy just fell from the sky? No, I won it through fights! Just watch for my killer move later!”
He jumped into the messy fight with the door bolt in hand before he even finished talking. He was almost mistaken by Ye Qingxuan as a sneak attack and was hit with a backhand brick.
“Oh crap, junior, it’s me! It’s me… Ah, why are you so deadly?”
—
The entire classroom was thrown into chaos. Bai Xi used her short height to her advantage and made successful sneak attacks. But it was a little worse for Ye Qingxuan. Other than the first two moves, the trained elites easily saw that he did not fight often and was taken down.
After Charles thought for a moment, he lay down on the ground and screamed, “Help! elites are beating people up!”
The skinny guy chasing him was confused. He had just been hit by Charles’s bottle, but before he could even react, Charles was on the floor. Had he finally become his family’s knight and learned the so-called nerve reflect, not having to fear sneak attacks anymore?
“Where’s the justice? Elites are killing people!” On the ground, Charles poured red ink onto himself and rolled around. “My leg! My leg! I can’t feel my leg… Oh God, I’m paralyzed. Save me. I want to die!”
“Hey, idiot, that’s your killer move?” Bai Xi suddenly did not have the brainpower to process any of this. She just wanted to cover her face and pretend she did not know him.
More and more people were dragged into the messy fight. With more students getting hurt accidentally, this strange conflict grew in size.
The commoners were already upset that the elites purposely picked on others today. And the brash elites were not the type to swallow their anger. They rolled up their sleeves and jumped in.
No one expected the first lesson on the first day of school to turn into a group fight.
“This is an accident, Sir. An accident!” Gritting his teeth and face ashen, Ben explained to Lancelot in the room above the classroom, “Sir, two black sheep were causing trouble…The commoners are always so vulgar! I will lock them up later.”
Lancelot’s expression was still calm as he gazed down at the chaos. He only shook his head. “They are just a group of young people. It’s good to have so much energy.” But the dissatisfaction in his voice was enough to make Ben want to explode.
The first lesson had been planned so carefully to show to the Queen’s messenger. But it had been ruined by the principal for no reason, and now this type of thing happened. It was like pouring a bucket of stinging medicine into his eyes!
“Amazing, this makes me reminisce my childhood.” The administrator whistled, satisfaction all over his face. “Group fights are a part of learning too.”
But then came a sound that changed everything.
Someone was communicating with the aether and chanting runes!
“This is…getting big.” Shock flashed past the administrator’s eyes.
—
The mess in the classroom was still chaotic.
No one noticed that Edmund had climbed up. With difficulty he stood up, supported by the wall. He glared at Ye Qingxuan’s backside with his swollen eyes full of murderous intent.
“You d*mned…street scum!” He spat out a broken tooth, his bruised face full of hate. “You angered me first!”
Opening his mouth, he began chanting a standard note. The obscure voice was like icicles bumping into each other. They overlapped in the air and turned into the crisp shattering of porcelain.
The first to react was Charles. He turned around in shock and stared in Edmund’s direction.
He knew this string of standard notes. The melody was the sign of the School of Modification’s standard rune Frost!
Unlike the other schools, even the most basic of Modification runes were unbelievably powerful. Extraction was targeted toward metals. If it was placed on a human, it could deplete half of one’s body’s liquid in an instant. Frost was targeted at temperature, and if modified onto one’s limbs, it would turn into assassin’s favorite technique: Frozen Touch.
Just a touch was enough to kill a large area of skin cells. If it reached a vital organ…the consequences were frightening.
But the short chant was already over. He did not even have the chance to interrupt it.
There seemed to be sunlight on Edmund’s hand, radiating coldness, as if he had a thin silk glove on. The designs on the layers of frost were chilling.
“Use your next life to repent!” he growled and charged toward Ye Qingxuan, his hand raised toward his face.
Ye Qingxuan turned around and saw Edmund’s fierce expression. He suddenly understood something and could not help but laugh.
“Idiot…” In that last moment, he sighed, “Idiot!” Banner, observing coldly from the side, could not help but mutter, “Idiot.”
Above the classroom, the administrator laughed while clutching his belly.
—
Under everyone’s shocked eyes, the Frozen Touch covered Ye Qingxuan’s face. The entangled frost designs glowed immediately.
In the silence, someone yelped, afraid to watch.
But Edmund froze. Because the aether suddenly disappeared in that moment!
He looked at his hand in shock, not understanding what had happened. He saw that familiar gray brick appear in his vision again.
It grew bigger, bigger and bigger…Bang!
With a wild roundabout, a broken piece of brick flew at Edmund and crashed onto the floor.
In the suffocating silence, Ye Qingxuan tossed the other half of the brick. Shaking his head, he sighed.
“The entire academy is enveloped with Requiem. Other than special practice rooms, not even Resonance Musicians have the power to make any effect. This is clearly said clearly in the student handbook. Why don’t you read it?”
“Kill him! Kill him!” Humiliated, Edmund lay on the ground, screaming in a choked voice. “Kill him! Why aren’t you moving…The Rossi family won’t let you get away with this! My brother won’t let you get away with this!”
Ye Qingxuan froze. “You mean there are more idiots like you?”
“You wanna die?!” Edmund tried to crawl over and tackle him in anger.
“Enough!” Ben roared outside the door.
The chaotic classroom fell silent instantly. Everyone stopped reflexively and turned to see the angry Ben, feeling unsettled.
“Someone come take Edmund to the doctor’s office.” Ben looked at the youth on the floor, and commanded a few students to take him away.
Looking at the blood on the floor, he glared at Ye Qingxuan. “Such a young age and already so cruel to your classmate. How did you pass the character test?”
62 You’re Dead
“Such a young age and already so cruel to your classmate. How did you pass the Character Test?”
“I don’t know. Maybe there was a test, but then it was changed into an observation,” Ye Qingxuan replied pointedly.
Ye Qingxuan had been angry ever since he discovered this guy’s true nature, and heard his professor explain the tricks they used during the test. There was not any reason for him to have a good attitude now either.
“Talking back to me?” Ben’s expression changed. “It seems that other than leading group fights, breaking school rules, and beating schoolmates, I should also write you up for disrespecting elders!”
Bai Xi could not take it anymore. “Hey, are you blind? Clearly it was that fatty who started it!”
“I will take away three points for vulgar language.” Ben glanced at her. “What School are you from?”
“School of Revelation! Try telling my teacher there!” Without hesitation, Bai Xi put all the blame on Edmund’s School. “I’m telling you, our School isn’t afraid of anything! If you dare to pick on us, my professor will teach you a le
sson!”
Just as Ben was about to burst in anger, Ye Qingxuan’s annoyingly calm voice sounded. “Professor, I don’t know about group fights, but I’m confused why you said I broke school rules.”
Saying this, he picked up the student handbook stained with Edmund’s blood. He pointed out to Ben, “There are more than four-hundred school rules, from the dress code to forbidden drugs. I memorized everything, but I don’t know which rule I broke.”
Ben froze and suddenly wanted to laugh.
There were more than four-hundred school rules, with more than seventy thousand words. He memorized it all? It was only the first day of school! Who was he kidding?
Ben was about to begin arguing, but when saw the hidden anticipation in the youth’s eyes, his voice died. A strange feeling told him that this guy might have really memorized it all…
His mouth opened and close, but he decided not to think into it anymore. Unfazed, he shook his head. “You’re being irrational. If you didn’t hit him, then what happened to Edmund?”
“Professor, Edmund fell by himself,” someone pretending to be dead on the ground suddenly said, scaring everyone. “Hey, that guy from music theory, you’re stepping on my hand, can you move? Yeah, you…”
When the crowd quickly dispersed, a dusty Charles finally stood up. He smoothed his messy hair and smiled his signature sunlight smile, bright like a flower. “I personally saw him fall by himself…If you don’t believe me, you can ask around.”
“Right, I saw it too.”
“He fell.”
Some students who could not stand the injustice whispered. The low murmur spread through the crowd. Hearing the words, Ben’s expression was cold enough to turn to ice.
If it were any other time, he would throw all of them into the correction center. But there was an esteemed guest behind him, and the situation he wanted to solve quickly was getting even more out of hand.
The continuous whispers made him angrier and angrier.
“Enough! Silence!” Gritting his teeth, he stared coldly at Ye Qingxuan. “You’re Abraham’s student now? Is this how he taught you to speak to professors?”
“I only know that the gods tell me to be just and fight against injustice.” Ye Qingxuan twisted his mouth into a safe smile, revealing eight teeth, no more and no less. Even the strictest worker at the Church would not be able to find any flaws.
Before Ben’s hateful eyes, he transitioned into a priestly state, and made the sign of the holy emblem across his chest. Softly, he chanted, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord, your God, will be with you wherever you go.” Then he closed his mouth, waiting for Ben to continue reprimanding him. He would then pull the topic closer to religion, where he could use his rich experience to win. He must use this topic! Otherwise, the hundreds of hymns he had memorized would go to waste!
Beside him, Bai Xi was unimpressed. She muttered under her breath, “You told me yesterday that there’s no point in winning a word fight.”
“Junior sister, you don’t understand,” Charles chuckled. “There’s no point, but it also doesn’t hurt…”
“Go die! I’m the senior sister!
Ben had not felt this horrible in a long time. He wanted to just communicate with aether and force this student out of the Academy, but he also feared the recommendation letter that supported him.
Ben did not know how to end this. The continuous attacks had destroyed all his dignity. At this time, a low voice that only he could hear sounded in his ear.
“The kids are just fighting. Just let them be.” He turned around in shock and saw the calm Lancelot standing apart from the crowd. Lancelot just nodded and looked away. Putting on his hat, he said something to the administrator and turned to leave.
“Sir, Sir…” Ben froze and glared at Ye Qingxuan and his friends. “The Academy will not allow any more of this foolery.” Done speaking, he turned around and tried to catch up.
—
And so the giant fight between commoners and elites, started by two youths, ended temporarily. But without doubt, it had planted the seed for more conflicts.
Within the next month, challenges and fights between the musician faction and noble faction never stopped. But that was an issue for later.
After Ben left, Ye Qingxuan let out a sigh of relief and turned to high five Charles in celebration. Ignoring Bai Xi’s raised hand, he patted her head, getting a roll of the eye and a kick in return.
“Junior, I didn’t expect you to be so good in fights. You’re a good man!” Charles squeezed his shoulder in praise. “After I get old, you can help me fight off the debtors.”
“Brother, can you just get away?”
“I can leave, but Junior, you can’t just not care about my livelihood.” Charles latched onto him, grabbing his shoulder. “Come, I’ll take you two to lunch!”
“Don’t lead us!” Ye Qingxuan and Bai Xi exclaimed.
“What are you scared of? I know the campus much better than you…”
“Get to the back and shut up!”
“…”
“This isn’t over yet. Don’t get so happy.” Just as they were getting ready to leave, an eerie voice sounded from the entrance.
When Bai Xi saw that it was Edmund’s sidekick, her face fell. “What, you want to get hit some more?” As she said this, she raised her fists.
Though he had just been insulted by Bai Xi, Bart’s expression changed dramatically before calming down. Coldly scoffing, he said, “Don’t forget! The Academy might not forbid fights, but they also allow the students to ‘learn’ from each other! In one week will be the selections for the prime student of the class. The aether will be allowed in the practice rooms, and if Edmund challenges you…you’re dead meat.”
Ignoring him, Ye Qingxuan walked past him, leaving his words behind. “If he can get up, then let him come.”
Rooted to his spot, the elite student froze, his face turned ugly.
Ye Qingxuan never even looked at him.
—
In the evening, a carriage pulled by a black stallion stopped in a secluded area of the city.
This was the quietest place in the city’s second ring. There were large trees on both sides of the road, and no sign of any urban life.
As the heavy gate opened slowly, the carriage entered the yard. Before the door, the driver opened the carriage door respectfully. A slightly aged man stepped down.
The white-haired housekeeper straightened his tie and came forward to welcome him. Sensing the fatigue in his master’s eyes, he did not say anything and ordered servants to tell the kitchen to add a cup of brandy after dinner.
“Where is the Miss?”
All of Lancelot’s men entered the hall and walked toward the library.
“She hasn’t returned from knight practice,” the housekeeper replied quietly. “Shall we call her back for dinner with you?”
“No need. There’s no need for dinner either. I have no appetite.” Lancelot pushed open the library’s door.
The housekeeper stayed outside rather than following inside. He felt that his master needed a quiet space, but did not know what had happened that made Lancelot so depressed.
Lancelot’s footsteps paused before the door. He seemed to be pondering something. After a while he turned around. “Tell Emma to come see me.”
“Emma?” The housekeeper froze, but quickly realized that he had acted out of conduct. Lowering his head, he replied, “Yes sir.”
Called forth by the Master, the unsettled old servant pushed open the door five minutes later.
The library was dark, with only one candle lit, illuminating the man on the sofa.
He seemed to be asleep, but when Emma entered, he opened his eyes. He pointed at the seat before him, telling her to sit.
“Master, do you need anything?” Emma asked after sitting.
“Tell me again, Emma.” Lancelot leaned back in the sofa, exhausted. “T
ell me what happened when you met that kid on the street.”
Emma froze.
“Are you speaking of…” Hesitating, she said the forbidden word, “Young Master?”
—
—
In the second floor dorm of the Music History’s building, Charles gazed up at the sky and sighed. “Junior, why do I suddenly think that you’re seriously dead?”
“Huh?” Ye Qingxuan, reading on the bottom bunk, looked up.
“Don’t you know that elites’ music education is at least five years ahead of commoner musicians?” Charles looked at him with exasperation.
“They have a bunch of drugs, research literature, and expensive personal tutors. They’re usually official apprentices by the time they enter the academy. I’ve heard that Banner Adrian has already gotten to the rhythm level! If they want to fight with fists, you can beat them with some dirty tricks. But if it’s a fight between musicians, what can you do? It’s all my fault for not stopping you earlier.” Charles sighed, burying his face in his hands. “What are we going to do? Professor will kill me if he finds out!”
“Is the difference really that big? You make it sound like I’m definitely going to die…”
“Isn’t that the case? I’m sure they already know at least ten runes very well. You’ve just entered the academy. How many do you know?”
Ye Qingxuan was stunned. He counted with his fingers and replied seriously, “I think I only know one!”
Hearing this, Charles almost fell from the bed.
“Then you’re definitely dead. Yezi, you’re dead, you know? From Heaven to Hell, no one can save you!”
63 What a Musician Is
The hot afternoon sun passed through the layers of ivy surrounding the window, shining into the library.
Outside the window, a lazy golden dog laid on the porch, sunbathing and sleeping. Beside it, Bai Xi earnestly combed its fur, then messed it up again as Old Phil slept.
Inside the library, Charles stood in the corner crying without tears. With a bucket of water in each hand, and a thick “Analysis of the Samnium Culture: Volume I” on his head, he stood attentively against the wall.